Method and machine for filling containers



Oct. 3, 1939. HOFFMAN AL 2,174,745

METHOD AND MACHINE EOR FILLING CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 15, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 1- llllllllllllllllllllllllllllll w ki iwom w Oct. 3, 1939.

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V k8 s. kk Q3 4 AMY 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS BY and Karfifiaza'adli Oct. 3, 1939. A. F. HOFFMAN ET AL IIETHOD AND MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 15, 1935 7 W A; Mu 2 a m a a M a |..l\ M 3 1 w 5 5 n 1 1 0 8 1 R H. 82 3 fl a H J 0 1 8 1 1 4 .w m w 1 n 1 w 1 m X m a a u I 1 1 7 1 v n 1 FL 1% v 1 w a INVENTORS Mailman, tlmn esfik'bmaza' 1&5 By MIMI/Wadi,

J "ITO EYS 1939- A. F. HOFFMAN ET AL 4 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 15, 1935 e Sheets-Sheet 5 I] I H II! I k II V k ,50- 0 m 1 INVENTORS fllbez-llfiafman t zadesflclzmalzer Kaziflanrad, 1 I

Och 1939- A. F. HOFFMAN El AL 2,174,745

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 15, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS Z0 llbezilla/flrm, dZar/Fflflckmalm BY and Kw'lzlmradg I be r S Patented Oct. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND MACHINE FOR. FILLING CONTAINERS l Albert F. Hoflman,

Schmutzer, Irvington,

South Orange, Charles and Kurt Manrodt, New- Application October 15 14 Claims.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for filling containers with liquids and has particular reference to filling bottles with beverages, including beer, liquors, wines, soft drinks, and the like, under the most sterile conditions.

The sterile filling of containers is not only I desirable for sanitary reasons, but in cases where the product is susceptible to deterioration because of infection from outside sources, it is absolutely essential that sterile conditions be maintained from the sterilization of the container to the sealing thereof. For example, beer and other malt beverages are now made and bottled in sterile condition without requiring the pasteurization step, so that in effect the bottled beer is so-called draught beer, retaining its original bouquet and flavor. The introduction of infectious matter after the beer has been sterilized, such as during the bottling process, would cause immediate infection and consequent spoilage of the beer.

In the current forms of filling machinery, especially those designed for filling bottles with beer, a bottle is placed on a platform and elevated to introduce within it an elongated filling tube connected to the beer reservoir. The interior of the bottle is connected by a self-sealing connection to a source of pressure having an equalizing connection to the beer reservoir. The pressure is usually provided by sterile air in a counterbalancing chamber or tank, and is effective to force the beer from the reservoir into the bottle and also maintains a counterbalancing pressure on the rising beer within the bottle to prevent foaming during the filling operation. As the beer rises-within the bottlethe air displaced by it flows through the self-sealing connection from the bottle to the counterbalancing tank or chamber and frequently carries with it particles or flecks of foam, which lodge in the crevices of the apparatus and quickly spoil and eventually contaminate the entire apparatus and the charge of beer within the reservoir. Also, when the' filling tube is withdrawn from the bottle after the filling operation has been completed, outside air flows into the bottle to replace the sterile air which has been displaced by the filling tube, and this outside air, being unsterilized, introduces a further source of infection.

In accordance with the present invention, a method and apparatus for filling containers with liquids such as beer, liquors, wines, and other beverages, are provided in which the filling is conducted from sterilization of the bottles to the sealing thereof under absolutely sterile condi- 1935, Serial No. 45,056

tions, and particularly in the case of sterile beer, in such a Way as to maintainthe advantages derived from sterilization of the beer, namely, avoidance of the pasteurization step to theend that the bottled beer is, in effect, draught beer, which retains the full bouquet and flavor which is ordinarily destroyed by the common subsequent pasteurization step. The invention will be described in connection with filling beer in bottles but the invention is not limited to that use, or even to beverages, but may be readily adapted to filling milk and other liquid foods in containers.

In the apparatus of the invention a suitable container, such as a bottle, is kept covered against contamination while being conveyed from the sterilizer to the filling position, where it is elevated into self-sealing contact with a centering bell and the latter is raised by the bottle so that a filling tube is projected into the bottle with its outlet adjacent the bottom thereof. A stationary shield in which the centering bell slides, completely envelops the bottle so as to protect it from contamin tion. Before a seal is made between the head of the rising centering bell and the filling mechanism, the bottle is automatically filled with a sterile, inert gas, preferably carbon dioxide gas, through a small tube concentric with the filling tube, so that this heavy gas displaces the air in the bottle, which flows out through the incomplete seal at the head of the centering bell. The gas accordingly affords a sterile protecting layer over the beer as it is subsequently supplied to the bottle. Then the seal-is completed by the centering bell head and thelatter opens a valve placing the interior of the bottle in communication with a pressure chamber in a counterbalancing tank containing sterile water under pressure of carbon dioxide gas.

The counterbalancing tank is of more or less conventional form and is connected at its upper end to the beer reservoir, so that the pressure on the beer in the reservoir and on the water within the counterbalancing tank is equalized at all times. Within the counterbalancing tank are one or more open-bottom pressure chambers in which the gas is trapped by the water to act asa pneumatic cushion whereby the flow of the beer is controlled by the counterbalancing pressure on the rising beer in the bottle and, on the beer in the'reservoir, irrespective of the amount of beer which is withdrawn from the reservoir as the result of the filling operation, so that the filling action is uniform and foaming is minimized.

Upon completion of the counterpressure connection between the bottle and the counterbalancing tank, the filling tube is automatically opened to fill the bottle with a measured quantity of beer, and is then automatically closed irrespective of the pressure in the bottle. The carbon dioxide displaced by the' rising beer within the bottle flows into the counterbalancing tank, carrying with it such flecks of foam and small charges of beer as are forced upwardly as a result of any surging and foaming of the beer. Within the tank at the discharge end of the tube connecting the bottle and tank, is a trough or funnel into which the entrained foam and beer is discharged for removal from the tank without becoming mixed with the water therein, whereby possible infection of the contents of the tank due to spoilage of this beer is prevented. The gas displaced from the bottle is added to the supply of gas within the upper portion of the tank.

After the bottle-filling operation, the filling tube is withdrawn from the bottle by lowering of the bottle from the enveloping shield. The Withdrawal of the tube from the bottle leaves a space above the layer of gas remaining in the bottle and this space would ordinarily be filled with outside air with the consequent liability of infection of the contents of the bottle. In the present arrangement, however, a small charge of sterile carbon dioxide gas, substantially equal to the cubical volume of the filling tube, is introduced by an automatically-operated valve into the bottle, so that the space above the level of the beer in the bottle is completely filled with a protecting layer of sterile carbon dioxide. In this condition the filled bottle is transferred to the capping ma chine where a sterile cap, such as a crown cap; is applied to the bottle in the conventional way.

After the filling operation, but before the filled bottle is withdrawn therefrom, a jet of sterilzing liquid is supplied automatically to the centering bell and flushes it and theinterior surface of the protecting shield to remove any beerv or foam which may have accumulated thereon. A safety mechanism is provided which responds to the absence of a bottle to be filled in the filling position to prevent operation of the automatic beer valve, so that beer intended for a bottle is not spilled over the filling machinery. Other features of importance are also providedall contributing to the maintenance of sterile conditions during the entire bottling operation.

It will be seen that with the new method and apparatus for filling containers, beer and other liquids may be bottled under absolutely sterile conditions from the sterilization of the empty bottles to the sealing of the. filled bottles, the

sterilized bottle being covered in its passage from the sterilizer to the filling apparatus to prevent contamination, filled with sterile gas, so that outside air cannot contact and contaminate the beer filled into the bottle, and refilled with sterile gas to replace the contents displaced by the filling tube, so that the beer is protected by a sterile gas layer during the transfer of the filled bottle to' the sealing mechanism, which completes the filling operation by closure of the bottle with a sterile seal. Initially sterile beer thus remains sterile throughout the operation of sealing it in a container or bottle, so that the usual pasteurization step, made initially unnecessary by the sterilization of the beer, remains unnecessary when the method and'apparatus of this invention are employed, whereas with the usual filling means, sterilization of the beer is useless because contamination inevitably results and pasteurization after bottling becomes essential.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan of the bottle sterilizing, filling and sealing apparatus in their preferred association, whereby the sterile filling method of this invention is obtained;

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-section through the sterile conveyor between the sterilizing and the filling apparatus, as seen along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the filling apparatus of the invention, as seen along the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged axial section through a filling head and illustrates the appurtenant parts thereof;

Figure 5 is an enlarged section of the pear valve closing the filling tube;

- Figure 6 is an enlarged section through the gas and brine supply stem at the top of the filling apparatus;

Figure 6A is an enlarged cross-section through the supply stem, as seen along the line 6A6A of Fig. 6;

Figure 7 illustrates the cooperation between the rinsing apparatus and filling head and is an axial section as seen along the line 1-1 of Fig. 8 showing the centering bell in elevated position;

Figure 8 is a plan view and partial section as seen along the line 88 of Fig. '7;

Figure 9 illustrates the beer valve safety control mechanism;

Figure 10 is a partial view of the safety mechanism as seen along the line Ill-|0 of Fig. 9;

Figure 11 is a plan view and partial section of the gas supply valve arrangement;

Figure 12 is a partial section through the two gas valves, as seen along the line |2-I2 of Fig.

Figure 13 illustrates the cooperation between the beer valve pawl and the trip detents therefor; and

Figure 14 illustrates a modified form of the beer filling tube valve.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, illustrat ing a preferred plan of the bottle sterilizing, filling and sealing apparatus arrangement, l0 designates a conventional sterilizer, where the bottles are washed and sterilized, I l designates the novel filling apparatus, supplied with sterilized bottles from In by conveyor 12, and I3 designates a conventional sealing mechanism, such as a crown capping machine, supplied by conveyor M with filled bottles from the filling apparatus l I.

As is illustrated in Fig. 2, the conveyor 12 comprises the usual driving belt l5, advancing the bottles B, which are guided by stationary guide rails IS. The open mouths of the bottles B are kept closed by a channel-shapedstationary hood l1, which is kept sterile and which prevents contamination of the interior of the bottles from the outside during their short travel to the filling apparatus II, in which they are pushed by the following bottles from the conveyor l2 over the guideway l8. As indicated in Fig. 1, the hood I! is curved to follow the guide-way '8. so that the bottles are kept covered up to the filling position in the filling'apparatus ll.

A suitable source of power, located at l9 and conventional in form, drives the filling apparatus '|I,'the conveyors and other appurtenant parts of the organization in a manner readily understood.

Referring to Fig. 3, the filling apparatus ll 63. Valve 64 controls communication between the includes a base plate 26 to which is bolted a pedestal 2| carrying a stationary crown cam 22. 'Journaled on the pedestal 2| is a sleeve 23 provided at its lower end with a disc 24 and at its upper end with a rotary spider 25. The spider 25 is fitted with a ring gear 26 engaged by a pinion 2I driven by the source of power I9 (Fig. 1). Located at equally spaced intervals around the periphery of the spider 25 is a series of vertical bushings 28 in each of which is slidably mounted a vertical bottle lift 29, which is sup-y ported and actuated by a connecting rod 36 pivoted on the outer end of a rocker arm 3| Journaled on the disc at 32 and carrying the cam- 5 following roller 33 which engages the crown cam 22. a

' Each rocker arm 3| is provided with a corresponding latch 34 adapted to engage and hold the corresponding rocker arm 3| in the filling position to which it is elevated by cam 22. Each latch 34 is pivoted at its upper end on a pin 35 connected to the spider and is fitted with a detent 36 arranged, after the bottle is filled, to engage the stationary knock-out pawl 31 mounted 25 on base plate 26 so that the rocker arm 3| again rides on cam 22. with this arrangement the crown cam 22 sustains the weight of the bottle lifts 29 and the bottles only during the time that the latter are being raised or lowered; during the filling operation the latches 34 hold the bottle lifts 29 in elevated position, disengaged from cam 22.

Secured to the upper surface of the rota y spider 25 is a turret 38, also provided with a 86 spider 39 supporting the ring-shaped reservoir 46 for containing the beer or other liquid which is to be filled into the bottles or other containers. Supported by the reservoir 46 and located in alignment with corresponding bottle lifts 29, is

46 a series of cylindrical shields 4|. As is illustrated 1 for the filling tube in head 44 provide passages for the flow of air and gas in a manner to be described.

The centering bell is fitted with a soft rubber gasket 4'! adapted to engage and seal the mouth 5 ofthe bottle or other container which is raised by cam 22 into engagement with it. This gasket 41 is held by bushing 48 in a recess formed in centering bell head 44. Centering bell head 44 is drilled at 49 to connect grooves 46 with an eccentric tube 56 seated at its lower end in centering bell head 44 and, when the latter is raised, tube 56 slides upwardly through guide bushing 5I and stufllng box 52 so as to telescope within a stationary tube 53 carried by the reservoir 46.

'85 Communication between the drilled passage 49 and the tube 56 is controlled by a ball valve 54 in the centering bell head 44.

The filling tube 45 passes through a valve body 63 interposed between the shield 4| and .76 the reservoir 46 and communicates with the interior of the latter. Surrounding the filling tube 45, and located within the valve body 63 is a slidable valve 64 havingseal buttons 65 which are normally urged against the valve seat 66 by means of a coil spring 64' within the valve body interior of the valve body 63 and a passage 63 connected to counterpressure tube 61 which leads to the interior of either the high pressure chamber 68 or the medium pressure chamber I II of the counterbalancing tank 69, the details of which will be described later. The lower end of the stem I6 of valve 64 extends downwardly within the shield 4| for engagement by the upper end of the centering bell head 44 when the latter is raised within shield 4|, as is illustrated in Fig. '7. Located at the head II of shield 4| is a rubber seat I2 shaped to conform to the upper end of centering bell head 44 so that when the latter is raised by the bottle B into engagement with the seat I2, the joint between the centering bell head 44 and the seat 12 is automatically sealed.

Extending axially through the filling tube 45 is an elongated small tube I3 carrying at its lower end a pear-shaped valve I4 which nor-' mally seals the lower end of filling tube 45. As illustrated in Fig. 5, pear valve I4 is made of metal but isprovided with a soft rubber tip I5 having a self-closing slit-shaped opening I6 which opens to pass gas under pressure issuing from the lower end of the gas tube I3, and which closes after the gas pressure is released to prevent beer from entering the gas tube 13. The upper end of the gas tube I3 is secured within the lower end of tube II, passing through reservoir. and slidable through a stufiing box I8 in the upper wall of reservoir 46. The upper end of tube I1 carries a gland I9 having an opening 86 which communicates with the interior of the tube I1 and is supplied with sterile carbon dioxide gas under pressure by flexible tube 8| connected to valve body 82 supplied by pipe 83 from carbon dioxide gas header 34. The tube 11 is sealed to the gland I9 by means of a packing 85 and the gland I9 is fitted with a ball 86 cooperating with an axially adjustable socket 81 carried by a lever 88 pivoted on a bracket 89 integral with a valve body 82 suitably secured by cap screws 96 to the outer surface of the reservoir 46. A spring 9| interposed between a boss 92 on the outer surface of 1 reservoir 46 and a fork 93 surrounding the tube TI and normally engaging the gland l9, urges tube I3, II in an upward direction so as to hold pear valve I4 seated against the lower end of filling tube 45. The free end 94 of the lever 88 engages a cam 95 mounted on the end of a short shaft 96 journaled in a bracket 91 secured to valve body 82 and carrying a triangular-shaped pawl 98 at its outer end (Fig. 13).

The valve body 82 is fitted with two gas valves 99 and I66, the former for supplying carbon dioxide under pressure to tube 8|, which conducts it to gland. I9 of gas tube I3. 17, and the latter for supplying gas to tubes 56 and 53 through tube I6I connecting valve body 82 with the cap I62 of tube 53. Gas valves 99 and I66 are urged to closed position by springs I63 and I64, respectively, and the valves are provided with push pins I65 and I66, respectively. Push pin I65 of valve 99 is engaged by a lever I61 pivoted on pin I68 on valve body 82, and push pin I66 of valve I66 is engaged by lever I69 also pivoted on pin I68. A cam M6 on the inner end of shaft III 'journalled in bracket 91, engages thefree end of lever M1. The outer end of shaft III is fitted'with a triangular pawl II2. ,A cam II3, on the inner end of shaft I I4 journalled in bracket 91, engages the free end of lever I69. The outer end of shaft II4 carries a triangular pawl II5. Cams 95, H6 and H3 are similarly operated for controlling the flow of beer, first gas and second gas to the bottle B in a manner to be described.

The counterpressure tank 69 contains a high pressure chamber 68 formed by the long, openbottom, inner cylinder II6, a medium pressure chamber I I1 formed by the short open-bottom cylinder H8, and the low pressure chamber I I9 between cylinder H8 and the wall of the tank 69. counterpressure. tube 61 leading to the filling head (Fig. 6) is connected to passage I in the head I2I of tank69 and rotating therewith. Initially, tube 61 is connected by passage I22 and spout I23 to the high pressure chamber 68th'rough stationary plate I24 keyed on the lower end of supply stem I25, whichis held stationary by the rod I26 at its upper end. As the filling progresses and the machine rotates, the connection of tube 61 shifts to medium pressure chamber 1 through passage I21 and spout I28, as is illustrated on the right-hand. side of Fig. 6. Spout I23 discharges into funnel I29 leading out of tank 69 by way of pipes I30 and I3I, and spout I28 discharges into annular trough I32 leading out of tank 69 by way of pipes I33 and I34 (Fig. 3).

. Pipes IN and I34 are normally closed by valves,

not shown.

High pressure chamber 68 is supplied with sterile carbon dioxide gas by feed pipe I35 and passage I36. Passage I36 also supplies annular passage I31 in the rotary slip-ring carried by suitably-supported brackets I 38, so as to rotate therewith. Passage I31 is connected by pipeI31' to annular gas header 84, carried by the beer reservoir 40. The low pressure chamber H9 is connected to beer reservoir 40 by pressure equalizing pipe I39, which in turn is connected to a carbon-dioxide and air return passage I40 (Fig. 6A) through pipe Ill and the slip-ring I42. Surplus air and gas displaced by the beer from the I bottles is purged through blow-ofi' valve I43.

Stem I25 is also provided with passages I 44 and I45 for circulating brine to a conventional cool ing coil (not shown) in beer reservoir 40. Passage I44 is supplied with brine by pipe I46 and is connected by annular passage I41 in slip-ring I48 to pipe I49 leading to the coil, the other end of which is connected to return pipe I50 communicating through annular passage I 5| in slip-ring I52 with return passage I45 leading to return pipe I53. Gage glasses I54 and I55 on reservoir 40 and counterpressure tank 69, respectively, indicate the respective beer and water levels therein.

Slidable on the tube 53 is a slide I56 having the laterally projecting safety roller I51 and fitted with a depending rod I58 passing through head H of shield 4I and resting on the centering bell head 44, so as to be lifted thereby, as is illustrated in Figs. 7, 9 and 10. Safety roller I51 in its lower position lies in the path of cam-shaped dog I60, on the end of a lever I60, pivoted on a bracket I6I and connected by link I62 to a bell crank I63, pivoted on bracket I6I. The free end of hell crank I63 engages the collar I64 adjustably mounted on the outer end of beer valve detent I65 slidably mounted in bracket I6I and normally held in the path of beer valve pawl 88 by spring I66 connected at one end to bell crank I63 and at its other end to the bracket. Thus, if there is no bottle, centering bell 42 is not raised to lift rod I58 and slide I56 to remove safety roller I51 from the path of dog I80, so that, as the machine rotates, roller I51 engages and lifts dog I60, which, through lever I60 and link I62, rotates bell crank I63 to withdraw detent I65 from means the path of pawl 98, whereby the beer is not turned on and spilled.

Located adjacent the filling machine II and rotating in synchronism therewith, is a rinsing star I61 (Figs. 1, 7 and 8). The star consists of a plurality of radial arms I68 journaled on a standard I69 and supplied at its center chamber I10 with a sterilizing solution or liquid by piping "I through a slip joint I12. Each arm I68 is fitted with a sleeve I13 having a valve seat I14 at its inner end normally closed by a valve I15 carried on the end of a valve stem I16 mounted on the end of a plunger I11. An axial passage I18 in plunger I11 communicates through valve stem passages I19 with the interior I of sleeve I13, which in turn communicates with chamber I10 through passage I8I in valve seat I14. A spring I82 normally urges plunger I11 radially outwardly and valve I15 against its seat I14.

The free end of plunger I 11 is provided with a ball I83, shaped to cooperate water-tightly with a spherical socket I84 seated in a recess in an abutment I85 on the head H of shield H. A rubber gasket I86 seals the joint between socket I 84 and abutment I85. The socket I84 and abutment I85 are provided with a passage I81 aligned with passage I18 in plunger I11 which communicates with an annular groove I88 around bushing 5| leading through passage I89 in head H to annular groove I90 surrounding the centering bell head 44 when the latter is in the raised position shown in Fig. '7. Groove I90 is provided with jet holes I9I directed on centering bell head 44, through which the sterilizing solution or liquid sprays on the head 44. When star I61 rotates away from socket I84 in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figs. 1 and 8, spring I82 moves plunger I11 to the right (Fig. 7), thereby closing valve I15 to shut off the fiow of sterilizing solu tion or liquid.

Each of the three pawls 98, H2 and H5 is provided with two detents, similar to detent I65 (Figs. 1, 3, 4, 9 and 13), one for opening the corresponding valve and the other for closing it. These detents are located in the paths of the corresponding pawls. and the reset detent is spaced ahead of the valve opening detent by a distance determined by the amount of time the corresponding valve is to remain open. Thus the detents I 92 and I93 (Fig. 1) controlling first gas valve pawl I I2 are spaced further apart than are second gas valve detents I94 and I 95 for pawl II5, while beer valve pawl 98 detents I 65 and I96 are spaced sufliciently far apart to insure regular and relatively slow filling of the beer. As is indicated in Fig. 13, the first detent trips the pawl and the second detent restores it. The spacing of the detents is variable.

In operation, the mouths of the sterilized bottles conveyed from sterilizer I0 by conveyor I2 are closed against outside contamination by hood I1, which keeps them covered until the bottles are delivered over guide I8 to the bottle lifts 29. Each bottle lift 29 is elevated by its rocker arm 3| as actuated by cam 22 so that the mouth of the bottle lifts centering bell 42 within shield 4I and seals itself against gasket 41 while being centered by bell 42. As the bell 42 is raised by the bottle B, it raises rod I58 which in turn lifts safety roller I51 out of the path of dog I 60 so that detent I65 remains in position to trip beer pawl 98 at the proper time. If there is no bottle on lift 29, safety roller I51 remains depressed,

so that detent I65 is withdrawn and the beer is dioxide gas flows under pressure through tubes Si, '51 and i3 and into pear valve 14, forcing open the slit '06, so that the heavy gas fiows into the'bottle B at a point adjacent the bottom thereof, the bottle B being well within the shield ll and the filling tube 55 projecting into the bottle. The slit i6 is self-closing so that after the gassing has ceased, the interior of the pear valve 14 and gas tube F3 are sealed against the ingress of beer.

The heavy sterile gas displaces the lighter air which flows out into shield ti through passages 46 and past the incomplete seal between head M and seat l2.

When the bottle is purged of air and completely filled with the sterile gas, the reset detent I93 trips pawl H2 and closes valve 99. Then cam 22 raises the bottle B further to seal the headit of centering bell 32 against the seat 12, so that the bottle is sealed from outside air. In this movement, the centering bell head d i engages valve stem it to open valve 85, so that the interior of the bottle B is connected through valve seat 66, passage 63', counter-pressure tube fill and passage B20 with the high pressure chamber 68 of counterbalancing tank 69, whereby carbon dioxide gas pressure in the bottle B and in chamber 68 is equalized.

Instead of initiating beer fiow by the building up of pressure in the bottle as in conventional filling machines, the beer valve in the present arrangement is mechanically and positively actuated by the tripping of pawl 98 with detent I65. This causes cam S5 to rotate and actuate lever 88 to depress tube 13-11 and-unseat pear valve It, so that beer fiows into the bottle from the reservoir ill through the filling tube d5. However, because the pressure in the bottle B is greater than in the reservoir Qt), only so much beer will fiow as is equal in height to the differ ence between the head of the water column in tank 69, which is sustained by the gas in the high pressure chamber 68, and the distance between the beer level in reservoir 60 and the lower end of filling tube 55. This difference in height between the water and beer columns is such that the beer will flow into the bottle to a point slightly above the lower end of the filling tube. Then the pressure in the bottle is decreased because, during the rotation of the machine, passage I20 was disconnected from high pressure chamber 68 and became connected to medium pressure chamber lll through passage 82'! (Fig. 6). The flow of the beer is therefore resumed under the reduced pressure of medium pressure chamber H'i until the bottle is filled to the predetermined level, when beer-pawl 98 is again actuated by reset detent 996 to close pear valve N to stop the beer flow through filling tube 55.

As the beer level rises, the gas in the bottle is displaced and returns to the tank 69 through tube 67, carrying with it flecks of foam and entrained beer droplets, for, even though foaming is minimized because of the gas pressure on the rising beer, there always is a certain degree of surging and consequent foaming. If this entrained foam and beer were deposited in the water of tank 59, spoilage and wwhich may have accumulated thereon.

tion of the entire apparatus would soon result. In the present arrangement, the gas is discharged into funnel I29 and trough I32 depending upon whether the tube 51 is connected to spout I23 or 528. The displaced gas mixes with the gas in the chambers 68 and H! while the collected beer flows out of the tank 69 through pipes 13! and I34 so that it cannot contaminate the tank,

During the beer filling operation, the appropriate plunger H] of rinsing star I61 seats in socket use and, in doing so, plunger lll is retracted so as to unseat valve I15, whereby a jet of sterilizing solution-or liquid is injected into annular space ISO to be sprayed through jet holes 39! over the upper surface of centering bell head 44 and runs down the interior of shield 4|, thereby rinsing these and adjacent surfaces of any foam In this way, the parts are automatically cleansed before the extraneous matter can dry and spoil. As the filling machine rotates, it turns the rinsing star step-by-step, due to theengagement between the ball H83 on a star plunger H1 and a socket I84 on the filling machine. Before the socket E84 has moved far enough to disengage the ball 183, the next socket I84 engages the nextball I83, thus rotating the rinsing star another step. As the rinsing star and carriage turn away from each other, the plunger in is released from socket I84 and is projected outwardly by spring I82 and valve H5 is closed.

After the filling operation has been completed in the manner described, knockout pawl 31 engages detent 36 of latch 34 and releases it from rocker arm 3! which again rides on cam 22. This cam lowers bottle '28 so that the seal between centering bell head M and seat 32 is broken, and valve stem ll) is released to permit spring 6% to close the counter-pressure valve (it. being stationary, is withdrawn from the bottle B as the latter is lowered, carrying centering bell B2 with it. As the filling tube 35 is withdrawn the beer level lowers because the beer had been displaced by the tube, thereby leaving a space above the level of the beer, which although partially filled with a protecting layer of carbon dioxide immediately over the beer, would be principally filled by the outside air, which might contaminate the contents. According y, before the outside air can enter and. as the filling tube 55 is withdrawn from the bottle, second gas pawl H5 is tripped by its detent i9 1 to open The filling tube 55.

valve I00 and inject a charge of sterile carbon dioxide through tubes ll, 50, 53, passage 49 to unseat ball valve 5% so that the gas flows into the bottle and fills it by an amount substantially equal to the cubical volume of the filling tube; 1. e. an amount substantially equal to the contents displaced by the filling tube 55. Then pawl H5 is reset by. detent I95 and the gas ceases flowing.

The contents of the bottle B, now being protected by the sterile layer of gas, the bottle B is then lowered by cam 22 out of engagement with centering bell 42 which rests on pin 43 at the lower end of shield M. The bottle in this condition is discharged by conveyor it to the sealing apparatus 83 where it is sealed with a sterile closure, such as a crown cap, under sterile conditions, and the filling and sealing operation is completed.

Instead of filling the bottle B with sterile carbon diomde in the filling machine as described, this operation may be performed in the sterilizer it, so that as the bottles issue therefrom on the .stop the beer flow.

any contamination by the gas filling. with this arrangement, the first gas valve 99 (Fig. 12) and -its appurtenant parts, including pawl H2 and tube I3, will be unnecessary, and the simpler form of beer valve shown in Fig. 14 may be employed. In this arrangement, the pear valve is dispensed with, beer pawl 98' is actuated as before and its cam actuates lever 88' pivoted on bracket ee'. Lever 88 actuates rod I91 normally urged downwardly by spring I98 interposed between its upper end and abracket I99 on the cam frame 9?. The lower end of rod I91 carries the valve 2%, nor mally closing the passage 2M to filling tube db through an annular valve seat 202, in which the valve 200 is guided and properly centered by prongs 203.

Accordingly, as the detent 865 engages wi 98', cam 95' lifts lever 88' and rod it? against the preure of spring I '98 and unseats valve 2% to allow beer to flow from the reservoir dd through filling tube 45' into the bottle. When the beer has been filled into the bottle to the proper level, reset detent I96 restores pawl 98', cam 95' and lever 88' to their normal positions allowing spring I98 to close the valve 299 and The counter-pressure is established in the bottle in the manner described, and the bottle is also filled with the gas layer after the liquid filling is completed, so that the filled bottle with its contents protected by the gas, is transferred to the sealing apparatus it.

It will be seen that the sterile method of filling and sealing containers according to this invention inhibits infection during the filling operation which would nullify the previous efi'ort of rendering'the beer sterile. Also, whether or not beer or other products which are subject to spoilage are packaged, the present method and apparatus provides for sanitary packaging which avoids contamination, so that the ultimate consumer is assured a sterile product. The new apparatus also embodies many novel features of importance wherebysterile, emcient, rapid and fool-proof filling of containers-may be effected. While a preferred embodiment of the invention and its modifications are illustrated and described herein, it is not limited thereby, but is susceptible of changes in form and detail within its scope.

We claim:

1. The method of filling a container under sterile conditions in the absence of heat, which comprises filling the container with a gas which is inert with respect to the intended contents of the container, supplying the container with a predetermined quantity of the intended contents while displacing a corresponding volume of the gas therefrom, maintaining the said contents under pressure of the gas, maintaining the container closed against ingress of air and feeding additional gas to the container while so closed to replace that displaced by the filling apparatus, and sealing the container.

, 2. In a container filling apparatus; the combination of a member inserted in the container for supplying the same with a liquid to a predetermined level, the remainder. of the container being filled with a gas, means for withdrawing the member, means for supplying the container with additional gas substantially equal in volume to the cubical volume of the member within the container, for replacing the contents thereof displaced by the member prior to withdrawal thereof, and means for maintaining the container closed against ingress of air during said gas and liquid filling operations.

3. In a container filling apparatus, the combination of a member inserted in the container for supplying the same with a liquid, meansfor withdrawing the member, means for supplying the container with a volume of a gas substantially equal to the cubical volume of the-member within the container, for replacing the contents thereof displaced by the member prior to withdrawal thereof, and means for maintaining the container closed against ingress of air during said gas and liquid filling operations.

4. In a container filling apparatus, the combination of means for the container with a gas, a member inserted in the container for supplying a liquid thereto up to a predetermined level, whereby a portion of the gas is displaced, means for withdrawing the member from the container, separate means for supplying the container with additional gas substantially equal in volume to the cubical volume of the member within the container, and means for maintaining the container closed against the ingress of air during the entire filling operation for replacing the contents thereof displaced by the member prior to withdrawal thereof.

5. In a container filling apparatus, the combi nation of means for filling the container with a sterile inert gas, means for filling the container with its intended contents to a predetermined level, while displacing a corresponding quantity of the gas therefrom, means for refilling the container with an inert gas above the level of the contents therein, means for maintaining the container closed against the ingress of air during the entire filling operation, and means for sealing the container while filled with the gas.

I 6. In a container filling and sealing apparatus, the combination with means for sterilizing the container, means for conveying the sterilized container to the filling position, means associated with the conveying means for maintaining the mouth of the container closed while conveyed to the filling position, means'for transferring the container to the filling position, means at the.

filling position for reclosing the mouth of the container and filling it with the intended contents to a predetermined level, means for filling the container above the level of the contents therein with a heavy sterile gas while the container is closed against the ingress of air and for replacing the gas ejected during the filling operation while the container is so closed, means for transferring the container so filled to the sealing position, and means for sealing the container.

7. In a container filling apparatus, the combination of a gas pressure chamber, a normally open pressure equalizing connection between the interior of the container and the chamber, means for supplying a liquid to said container, said liquid displacing the gas therein through said connection into said chamber, and means associated with the discharge end of said connection in the chamber for collecting the liquid particles carried from said container by the displaced gas.

8. In a container filling apparatus, the combination of a cylindrical shield, means for introducing an empty container within the shield,

means within the shield for filling the container with its intended contents, and means for rinsing the interior of said shield after each filling operation.

9. In a container-filling apparatus, the combination of a filling tube adapted to be inserted in the container for supplying a liquid filling thereto, a valve normally closing the discharge of said tube and having an opening for introducing other material in said container, said opening being self-closing to prevent ingress of the liquid.

10. In a container filling apparatus, the combination of a filling tube adapted to be inserted in the container for supplying a liquid filling thereto, a valve normally closing the discharge of said tube, said valve being hollow and including a fiexible material having an exit distendible by pressure within its interior and self-closing upon drop in said pressure to prevent ingress of the liquid.

11. In a bottle filling machine, the combination with a filler valve, including a filler tube adapted to be projected into the bottle, of a counter-pressure tube adapted to deliver an inert gas to the bottle prior to the delivery of the liquid through the filler tube, a bottle bell having a throat engaging the neck of the bottle to be filled and reciprocable relatively to the filler tube, a gas conduit connected with said bell and adapted to supply gas thereto, and means for preventing the flow of gas through said conduit and into said bell so long as the gas is flowing through said counter-pressure tube.

12. In a bottle filling machine, the combination with a filler valve, including a filler tube adapted to be projected into thebottle, of a counter-pressure tube adapted to deliver an inert gas under pressure to the bottle, a valve for controlling the admission of counter-pressure to said tube, means operated by the movement of the .bottle for controlling said valve, and means for delivering an additional supply of gas to said jected into the top of the bottle, said throat having a gas passage therethrough and adapted to be connected with the counter-pressure tube when the throat is moved into engagement with said tube to open said counter-pressure valve, and

means for supplying said passage with gas when said colmter-pressure valve is closed and the throat is disengaged from the counter-pressure tube.

14. In a bottle filling machine, the combination 'with a filler valve, including a filler tube adapted to be projected into the bottle to be filled, of a counter-pressure tube adapted to deliver an inert gas under pressure to the bottle when the filler tube is projected into the bottle, means for shutting off the gas and liquid supply prior to the removal of the tube from the bottle, and means for delivering an inert gas to the bottle after the counter-pressure supply of gas has been discontinued and during the movement of the filler tube through the liquid in the bottle as the filler tube is withdrawn from the bottle.

ALBERT F. HOFFMAN. CHARLES SCHMIUTZER. KURT MANRQDT, 

